By Kajo Martins, Makurdi

Activities of some politicians of Benue extraction based in Abuja have come under criticism as the state government has raised alarm of their plans to destabilize the polity by smearing Governor Gabriel Suswam’s administration.

A press statement signed by Mr. Cletus Akwaya, special adviser on media and public affairs, made available to Nigerian Newsday in Makurdi, the state capital did not name such politicians, but our correspondent gathered that prominent Benue politicians based in Abuja included Senate president David Mark, Senator George Akume, Senator Joseph Akaagerger, Senator Joseph Waku and Chief Barnabas Gemade among others.

"Part of the plot also includes the distribution of inciting documents and pamphlets with the intention to discredit the state government as well as cause confusion in the state. Our investigation has revealed that the politicians in question were behind the 35- page petition against Rt. Hon. Gabriel Suswam by the former member of the Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. Clement Nanevwua Uhondo."

According to Mr. Akwaya, information available to the state government indicated that these politicians based in Abuja have been peddling rumours that the son of Mr. Uhondo who is acting the script of these desperate politicians has been kidnapped and that the Benue State Government was responsible for this.

"From the foregoing, we wish to warn the masquerading politicians to be courageous enough to publicly raise issues with the state government rather than cowardly hide under Mr. Uhondo who has allowed himself to be used as a pawn on the chessboard of Benue politics. We warn these mischief makers to stop this campaign of calumny or else we will be constrained to expose them before the discerning Benue public," Mr. Akwaya said.

Continuing, he said, "for the avoidance of doubt, the Benue State Government has no hand and can never be involved in the case of alleged kidnap of Mr. Uhondo’s son or the cowardly act of kidnapping anybody. Since the matter of kidnapping is a serious criminal matter, we urge any member of the public with such a complaint including Mr. Clement Nanevwua Uhondo to report same to the law enforcement agencies for investigation and not to resort to unfounded allegations against the state government."

The special adviser called on the police to launch full scale investigations into Mr. Uhondo’s allegations in view of the potential damage it holds on the integrity and image of the Benue State Government, saying governor Gabriel Suswam, however, appealed to the people of Benue State both at home and in the diaspora to ignore these mischief makers bent on undermining the state government and to continue to support the government in her efforts to take Benue State to the next level of development.

Mr. Akwaya said that the governor has assured the people of the state of his commitment and determination more than ever before to forge ahead with his transformational policies as enshrined in his development blue print "Our Benue, Our Future" and that no amount of black mail, mischief, or distraction would deter him from delivering on his promises to the people.